Pennsylvania Ballet continues the tradition of The Nutcracker'

The version of “The Nutcracker” performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet features everything audiences associate with the timeless ballet — a cast of 19th-century families celebrating Christmas Eve, a little girl’s dream of her Nutcracker Prince, the Prince’s toy soldiers battling a fleet of mice led by the Mouse King and the crowd-pleasing second act of dances in the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Every year, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia hosts a wide variety of events — classical music performed by top-flight orchestras, touring Broadway musicals, international dance shows and live opera performances.

But, when it comes to splendor, excitement and fan appreciation, nothing can compare to the Pennsylvania Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker.”

One of the longest running — and most cherished — holiday traditions for families in the Delaware Valley is the Pennsylvania Ballet’s presentation of “The Nutcracker.” For many families, it just wouldn’t seem like Christmas without attending a performance of the Pennsylvania Ballet’s annual Christmastime spectacular.

This year’s production, which is running now through Dec. 29 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, marks the 45th annual staging of the classic ballet. The ballet is structured around E.T.A. Hoffman’s tale “The Nutcracker and The Mouse King” and set to a score by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky.

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With its lively dances, colorful costumes and elaborate sets, “The Nutcracker” is a show that appeals to audiences of all ages. The original version of the timeless classic was first presented in Saint Petersburg in 1892.

Balanchine’s choreography plays a major role in the Pennsylvania Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker.” The show, which is one of the country’s oldest, biggest and best performances of the classic ballet, acknowledges this with its title – “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.”

The Pennsylvania Ballet has a long history with Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” For a long time, the company did a different first act and then Balanchine’s second act. In 1987, the company began doing a new production with the inclusion of Balanchine’s first act.

George Balanchine, who was named Giorgi Balanchivadze when he was born in Russia in 1904, was one of the last century’s most celebrated choreographers. He was a primary developer of ballet in the United States in his position as co-founder and ballet master of New York City Ballet. Balanchine created his version of “The Nutcracker” for the New York City Ballet in 1955.

The Pennsylvania Ballet’s production of the ballet features over 100 performers and has an annual audience attendance of over 50,000. The company’s production is big, colorful and elaborate. And, it is staged in one of the most beautiful performance halls in the country.

The version of “The Nutcracker” performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet features everything audiences associate with the timeless ballet — a cast of 19th-century families celebrating Christmas Eve, a little girl’s dream of her Nutcracker Prince, the Prince’s toy soldiers battling a fleet of mice led by the Mouse King and the crowd-pleasing second act of dances in the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.